Brush Bronzewing

1. Iridescent bronze-green bars across wings that shimmer in sunlight

2. Distinctive maroon stripe through eye with white stripe underneath

3. Males have rich chestnut forehead, absent in females

Brush Bronzewings can breed year-round but favour spring and early summer. They build simple platform nests in thick vegetation, sometimes on the ground or in low shrubs. Both parents care for their young, with quick turnaround between broodssometimes just 3-4 weeks. Habitat clearing has affected their distribution, limiting them to areas with sufficiently dense undergrowth.

Look for Brush Bronzewings in areas with dense vegetation across coastal Australia, from Queensland around to South Australia, Tasmania, and southwestern Western Australia. They're most active at dawn and dusk when they cautiously venture to water sources to drink. Search for them on the ground in coastal heathlands, thick shrublands, and densely vegetated forests. Listen for their low, repeated "rrooh...rrooh..." call, which can help locate them before you spot them moving carefully through the undergrowth.